Biotechnology Letters, Vol.25, No.9, 701-704, 2003
Inhibiton of polyamine biosynthesis in Acanthamoeba castellanii and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced ornithine decarboxylase activity by chitosanoligosaccharide
Growth of Acanthamoeba castellanii was inhibited by chitosanoligosaccharide (up to 20 mg ml(-1)) from the shells of crabs but was reversed by the polyamines, putrescine or spermidine, at 0.8 mM. Chitosanoligosaccharide strongly inhibited the induction of ornithine decarboxylase by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, a key enzyme of polyamine biosynthesis, which is enhanced in tumour promotion.